The $604 million issue from consumer lender Springleaf Financial, the former American General Finance, will bundle together about $662 million of loans secured by assets such as cars, boats, furniture and jewelry into ABS, according to a term sheet. Some loans have no collateral.

Personal loans haven't been a part of the mainstream ABS market since securitizations from Conseco Finance Corp. in the late 1990s, according to Michael Dean, co-head of Fitch Ratings' ABS group. That market dried up as the recession hit and, under the weight of bad subprime loans, Conseco filed for bankruptcy in 2002.

Springleaf's issue comes as prices on traditional issues backed by auto loans, credit cards and student loans have soared as investors pile into debt with extra yield over Treasurys. As those yields fall, ABS investors have been giving unusual assets that were previously shunned a second look....

The 190,627 loans in the Springleaf deal have an average FICO credit score of 602, in line with many subprime auto ABS. But the average coupon of 25% on Springleaf's personal loans is above that on even "deep subprime" auto loans, probably because there is no collateral for 10% of the issue, an analyst said.

Bonus points for AIG's involvement in this offering (btw, now that AIG has repaid obligations to taxpayer, expect a corporate name change in 3..2..1..)

We had a credit bubble in part where the market likely under-priced certain risks. Bubble bursts and risks take their toll. Economy floundered. The Fed reduced interest rates to zero. Frustrated with low interest rates, investors have begun seeking out risk, likely driving down the price of risky investment. Repeat.

Don't worry, S&P is being sued by Eric Holder so they'll get their ratings in line shortly - AAA all of these.

http://twitter.com/aphofer Andrew Hofer

I've followed Springleaf. It is no longer owned by AIG. Fortress bought it. ANd I must say, even thought they specialized in subprime, they retained it on their balance sheet and underwrote the old fashioned way. Their portfolio performed much better than the securitized crap. I suspect if you short the senior you'll get hurt.